Hard starting 2F

[madinal]

My 1979 Fj40 with the original engine starts when I give it a spritz of starting fluid. After it warms up, it will start again after sitting for up to 3 hours.

The PO removed all the emisisons stuff and the carb has several blocked ports. I have an electric fuel pump and I let it run for a while before I try to start it. (Turn the key half way until the seat buzzer goes off before I engage the starter)

Is there an adjustment I can make to the carb or do I have to rebuild it because of some seal or jet not functioning?

 

[LSUfj]

Does it run well after being started? If so, I would guess that fuel is making its way out of the carb when it sits for a while. check the site glass before you start.

 

[MtnClimber]

Do you pump the throttle before starting? If not can you look down into the carb and actuate the throttle to see if the pump squirts fuel into the venturi?

 

[madinal]

I've tried pumping the throttle, pumping and holding the throttle at half way and just using the choke.

It runs great after it starts and it starts right up with the starter fluid or after it is warmed up.

 

[MtnClimber]

Starter fluid really should not be used unless in emergency situations. It has a lower flash point and will pre-ignite in the cylinder causing damage. In the Air Force, we had quite a few engines need to be rebuilt because the con rods were bent due to the over use of starter fluid. They all had hard starts after the use of fluid because the bent rods lowered the compression. This was the same with gas and diesel engines.

 

[Bodean]

Face it, your truck is an ether whore! That's what we call all of the trucks in the Air Force that require starting fluid. HA! As stated above, it's not a good thing and should only be used when necessary.

 

[madinal]

Yea, that's why I'm asking for help, I don't want to be using the SF. Did you guys in the Air Force ever fix your problems or just make them worse? If you fixed them on the gas engines. how?

 

[MtnClimber]

Well, in most cases it was caused by someone who was too impatient to properly start the vehicle in the cold and just went straight for the can. Once the engine has got it's hit of ether, it needs more and more and eventually croaks (breaking something).

Try cleaning the carb with carb cleaner and run some seafoam in the tank. Maybe you have something clogging your passages (where the extra fuel pumps out).

 

[madinal]

I've run allot of carb cleaner through it but what is "seafoam"? I think the diagnosis that it is not getting fuel from the start pump is the right answer. Would seafoam help?

 

[Bodean]

Yea, that's why I'm asking for help, I don't want to be using the SF. Did you guys in the Air Force ever fix your problems or just make them worse? If you fixed them on the gas engines. how?

All were all diesel fuel trucks and no we didn't fix them. We got new ones before they were really a problem. Sorry. someone here will have an answer tho. If I let my 78 sit for a while (2 weeks) it is hard to start. It takes about 10 seconds or so. Once it starts it's fine as long as I drive it daily.

 

[AF Sergeant]

My 1979 Fj40 with the original engine starts when I give it a spritz of starting fluid. After it warms up, it will start again after sitting for up to 3 hours.

The PO removed all the emisisons stuff and the carb has several blocked ports. I have an electric fuel pump and I let it run for a while before I try to start it. (Turn the key half way until the seat buzzer goes off before I engage the starter)

Is there an adjustment I can make to the carb or do I have to rebuild it because of some seal or jet not functioning?

so it runs fine after it's all warmed up but has trouble starting on its own when it's cold. Ever done a compression test? Do you have good throttle response after it's all warmed up? I too was a mechanic in the AF and remember going out to start and old engine during the winter and taking a can of either with me. I recently ran compression tests on my rig and was surprised to see rather low results (112-115). It starts fine but runs rough for about 10 min. Once warmed up, it runs great.

 

[edwjmcgrath]

Read lsu's post. I think he's on the right track.
Meanwhile, put some gas in a squirt bottle and use that, not starting fluid.

 

[madinal]

Good idea, I'll make up a squirt bottle of gas. That will lower the shock to the engine. Thanks,

 

[MtnClimber]

I've run allot of carb cleaner through it but what is "seafoam"? I think the diagnosis that it is not getting fuel from the start pump is the right answer. Would seafoam help?

Seafoam is petroleum based cleaner that you can run in your oil, fuel or intake. Look it up. there are videos of how to use it on youtube. Stuff really cleans valves very well and will eat the varnish that causes moving parts to stick.